Investment banking firms mainly help businesses raise funds by acting as their agents. Other services provided by investment bankers may include mergers, acquisitions, sell out, restructuring, equity research, etc. Businesses use such services because either they don’t have that expertise in-house or they want to leverage the professional expertise offered by them. Since business activities, such as fund raising, are time-critical and have the potential to make or break the company, it becomes very important to make the right choice while hiring an investment banker. Below are some questions that you must ask your potential bankers to choose the most appropriate one for your business.

Making an Informed Decision

•Track Record: There is no better way to judge someone’s capabilities than to look at their track record. You should ask for details like the number of deals they have closed so far, percentage of deals they are able to close, size of the deals, deals closed within your industry, etc. From the answers to these questions, you will be able to assess the success rate of the firm, their experience in your industry and the probability that they will be able to successfully close a deal for your business too.

•References: This is a very credible method of validating a firm’s track record. You must ask the services provider to give names of some references that you can talk to. While talking to the references, try to find out more about their experience with the firm rather than the achievement.

•Team: Behind every successful investment banking firm, there are competent bankers. You should ask for the details of the entire team, as well as the specific person who will represent your business. This will help you find out if the person representing your business is competent and experienced enough to handle the deal.

•Time: For businesses, time is money. As mentioned earlier, activities like fund raising are time-critical too. Therefore, it is very important to find out the time it will take for the financial institution to close the deal. Also, since the firm will charge you some sort of fixed monthly fee, you would not want to continue paying them for a very long time without seeing any results.

•Fees: Lastly, you should ask about the fees that you will be charged by the investment banking firm. The fees can be a fixed retainership, commission on successful closure or a combination of both. An important point to consider here is that a firm working on a fixed fee along might not be interested in closing the deal quickly for you.

The cost of living (COL) in Indonesia is low, compared to many other countries around the world. So, if you have moved to Indonesia or if you are a long-time resident, the competitive salary and the low COL will give you a purchasing power advantage. Take accommodation, for example. A two-bedroom furnished apartment, in a posh hotel complex (a four-star hotel), starts at about US$1,000 a month. So, one can imagine the low-rent housing options available. While a salary of $1,500 (for a family of two) might be difficult to manage with in any other part of the world. It is more than sufficient here, letting you enjoy entertainment options, spa treatments and exotic vacations as well. However, all this financial freedom also requires proper savings. And, for this, you can make use of savings deposits (tabungan berjangka) and other investments options to make the most.Why Choose Saving Bank Accounts?Savings bank accounts are popular due to their simplicity. Such deposits primarily ensure that you can accumulate money while attracting a nominal rate of interest. Also, your funds do not get tied up. So, when you need money, you can simply use this source.This account typically requires you to maintain a low minimum balance. However, this depends on the bank and the account type (recurring deposit linked, salary, etc). Also, the rates of interest linked to such deposits generally vary from bank to bank. While many Indonesians hold such a deposit, not many pay attention to the interest earned on this account. They do not look at the rate of interest, nor do they know when such the interest is due. The interest for a savings deposit account is typically compounded daily, but paid monthly or quarterly. This is extremely beneficial because the bank calculates your interest on the money on which it has already paid you interest.Choosing a Bank for your SavingsWhile most people choose a savings bank (tabungan bank) based only on the interest rate, here are a few other factors to consider. 1.Find out the minimum balance limit that has to be maintained in the account. Also, check whether you will be liable to paying a penalty in case the amount drops below the minimum limit. Some banks agree to waive the minimum balance if you agree to open a fixed deposit with them. Also, some offer ‘zero balance’ accounts, especially for students and salaried individuals. 2.Are there ancillary fees? Banks might charge fees for ECS payments, debit card issue, debit card use and other such services provided. Ensure that there are no hidden charges for these other services.

Since we all know that beauty is skin deep, this is probably the best place to start addressing the need for that youthful glow! One thing that can really ruin that glow is dry skin. While keeping your skin might be one of the best remedies for dry skin, there is more it than just hydration. Anyone can fall prey to this condition if the skin loses too much of its natural oils and water. Age is one of the primary reasons for this condition, given that our skin tends to dry and become thinner as we age. In fact, people aged 40 and above need to take extra care to keep their dermal layer well hydrated. Another fairly obvious reason is the climate. If you stay in regions that have desert-like climate or harsh winters, you will need to take extra care. Here’s a look at some of the most common reasons why you could develop dry skin.

Know the CausesIf you want the remedies for dry skin to really work, you need to address the root cause of the condition. Usually it is a group of factors rather than one single cause that leads to this condition.

1.Health: The state of your health has a large impact on the condition of your skin. Why specific ailments, like hypothyroidism, diabetes or psoriasis might directly lead to dryness, if you aren’t in the pink of health, your skin will reflect it. Some types of medication could also increase dryness. So, make sure you get regular checkups, do something to relieve stress on a regular basis, eat right and exercise.

2.Overwashing & Skin Irritants: Many soaps, detergents and sanitizers end up robbing the skin of its natural oils. So, if you are using harsh soaps or tend to wash your hands or other parts of the body multiple times a day, you would need to find a way of compensating for the loss of natural hydration. Also, certain fabrics, detergents or even perfumes could prove to be skin irritants, leading to dryness and itchiness.

3.Hot Showers: If you love to bathe in almost scalding water, your skin could pay the price for it. While standing under a hot shower might feel wonderful, especially on those cold winter mornings, the steamy experience will dry out the natural oils faster. The same is true for those who go for regular swims.

4.The Sun & Your Job: The UV rays of the sun have multiple adverse effects on your body, not the least of which is dry skin and wrinkles. So, if your work makes you spend time in the sun, make sure you compensate for it. Also, some types of jobs could have the same effect even if they do not make you spend too much time outdoors. For instance, hair stylists and nurses not only work with chemicals, they also need to keep washing their hands regularly.

5.Skin Conditions: Skin problems like eczema (atopic dermatitis) or psoriasis will leave you prone to dryness.

So, make sure you keep a check on the state of your skin and seek remedies for dry skin from a reliable and reputable specialist before things worsen.